About 190 Women, youth and persons living with disability groups from the Kiambu County have benefited from Sh19,115,000 to either start new business ventures or expand existing ones.
While addressing 80 groups from Ruiru, Juja, Thika Gatundu North and South, Kiambu women rep said that the goal of this grant was to empower the masses in Kiambu County in order to free them from any form of financial dependency.
“I am happy today to present you with these cheques knowing quite well that this money will go a long way in alleviating poverty in our county. As others are being teargassed elsewhere for things of no benefit to them, I am glad to teargas you with financial empowerment that will change your lives and those around you for the better,” said Gathecha.
The money, derived from The National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF), is a result of a long standing struggle by the Women legislators having fought for the fund for more than three years in parliament. The Treasury allocated it a meagre 0.02 per cent of the national budget.
“Ours has been a very long journey. I am glad today we are seated here ready to enjoy that what we toiled for three years. Our baby has been delivered after undergoing a tough pregnancy stretch and we should therefore never let it go to waste,” she said.
She warned anyone who tried to mess with this allocation that they would not be spared from the wrath of the law. She pleaded with the beneficiaries to prudently invest on the money so as to attain maximum gains.
“I want when we meet here next time, I shall be talking with the next Kiambu millionaires. I want to prove to the whole world that Kiambu people amass their wealth from sheer hard work and prudent investment. After cashing your cheques, go invest and organize your own table-banking programmes that will be focused on financial independence,” she added.